Electric railway



(No Model.)

B. M. HUNTER.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

' No. 405,556. Patented June 18-, 1889.

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N, PETERS. Phuto-Lilhngn phur, Washington, D. C.

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ATENT RUDOLPH M. HUNTER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRl'C RAILWAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 405,556, dated June 18, 1889.

Original application filed A ril 28, 1,886, erial N0- ZOOAOO. Divided and application filed F br ary 25, 1889, Serial No. 301,189. Again divided and this application filed April 9, 1889. Serial No. 306,567. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH M. HUNTER, of the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Electric Railways, (Case 94,) of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to electric railways; and it consists of certain improvements all of which are fully set forth in the follow ing specification, and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

This application (Case 94.) is a division of my application No. 301,139 of 1889,which was a division of my application No. 200,400, filed April 28, 1886.

My invention has for its object the provision of a system of switches suitable for a main line of an electric railway combined with sidings, outgoing and incoming branches, all of which may be used at one and the same time or at difierent times. These switches are so arranged that the brushes or collectors of the motors or cars are positively guided from one set of conductors to another, and may be combined with suitable switches for the tracks and slots, whereby not only is the vehicle guided in the proper direction, but the collector and the brushes are also positively insured to travel in the right slot and conduit. In the case of the siding, when the switch is open, one conductor is supplied with positive and the other with negative current; but once on the siding and the switch closed both conductors supply similar currents, and the motor is securely prevented from accidentally forcing its way onto the main track again. Before it can be run off the switch must be turned. In the case of the incoming branch, or when a car is coming into the main line in a direction opposite to that in which the cars are normally traveling on said main line, the switches are provided with springs, whereby, while a car from the branch track may run onto the main line, pushing open the switches, the cars from the main line cannot run upon the branch track. The conductor-switch and slot-switch may be coupled together, or the slot and rail switches alone may be coupled together. In the case of the outgoing branch, the switches for the rails, the slot, and con ductors should all be coupled together. This is necessary, since, as the cars come end on to the switches, any one of the switches being misplaced would cause a breakage. By coupling them together the car cannot go further wrong than running on the branch when it should continue-on main line, or vice versa.

My object is also to combine the switches with electric signals and derived circuits in such a manner that when a branch or main line is closed the signal is automatically displayed. These signals may be red lights or semaphores, or both combined. They would I receive their electrical motive power from'the generating or home station, but'must be controlled by the movement of the switch.

My object is further to provide an electric railway with an underground slottedconduit and insulated bared workirig-conductors located therein, and removable doors or covers forming part of the slot and arranged at intervals for an entrance to the conduit, and through which a carriage for assisting in repairing the conductors may be inserted and removed, as also for removing any broken parts of the collecting devices of the motors; and, if desired, cleaning-wells may be located under said doors, as shown.

The foregoingis a brief enumeration of the essential points involved in this application, and I will now describe the accompanying drawings, in which-' Figure 1 is a plan view showing the main-line siding and incoming and outgoing branches of an electric railway. Figs. 2, 3, and 4: are enlarged plan views illustrating the switches shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a switch in which the working-conductors are combined with electric signal devices to indicate whether the branch or line is open. Fig. 6 is a cross-section of the conduit on line so a; of Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section on line 'y y of Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 is aplan view of the conduit.

Referring to Fig. 1, we have the conductors A B combined with switches T and the siding 1 and branches 2 and 3. The ends of the working-conduotors in the conduit at the branching points are stationary, but may have a movable section or switch as a guide, though this is not necessary. When such switch is used, it may be simply a guide or be provided with conductors on its sides, which may, in a general sense, be considered continuations of the working-conductors The direction of the arrows indicates the direction of travel of the motors under normal working, and therefore on the same electric railway provision must be made for all of these conditions.

Referring to Fig. 2, we have an enlarged plan view of the connection of siding 1 and branch 2 with the main line. The sidingswitch T is electrically connected with the B conductor of the siding, and the A conductor is electrically connected with the A conductor of the line. When the siding is closed, its A and B conductors are of like polarity; but when open, as indicated in dotted lines Fig. 1, they are of different polarity, and a car or motor may be run upon the siding. As soon as the switch is closed, it will be impossible for the operator or any one else, either accidentally or maliciously, to run the car back onto the line by operating the keys or switches on the motor. The switch of the siding-conductors may be connected to the rail-switch U by crank and links a, and also with the slot-switch U by similar devices it, so that the collectors depending from the car through the slot f maybe caused to pass in the proper direction. If desired, the switch T may be coupled with the slotswitch U alone; but I prefer all three to be coupled together whereever the car is to meet the switch point on, or, in other words, approach the point of the switch. In the case of the branch 2, from .which the cars run onto the main line, (but not from the main line onto the branch,) the switch T is made substantially as shown in Fig. 4, and provided with a spring 2, to keep it normally closed, so that it shall offer no obstruction to the cars on the main line, and yet shall freely give way to allow of the collectors from the branch passing into the mainline conduit when a car is running from branch'to main line. In this case, also, the slots are provided with a switch U which may be connected to the rail-switch U by link a, and the two may be operated by a spring 2?, to keep the main line open, or the switches U and U may be separate and the switches T and U connected; but the first construction, such as shown in Fig. 2, is probably the most satisfactory.

The slot-switches would be constructed substantially like those in use 011 cable railways in which the end or point rests upon the conduits, either above the slot or in a support immediately below it. The springs 25 15 would tend to force the collectors snugly against the continuous conductor, and this would be of particular use if in the case of branch 3 the switch U Fig.- 3, were provided with a spring, as shown in Fig. 2, as then the collectors would be forced against the conductor A, which is continuous. It is of course advisable to have the rail-switch somewhat in ad- Vance of the branching point in the conduitthe car and its collectors, and the rail and slot switches would be in advance of the branching point of the working-conductors.

lhe construction of the switches at outgoing branch 3 is in all material respects the same as at the siding, except the electrical connection of the switch T, which should be like Fig. 5, in which the switch is provided with conductors T on its sides connected, re spectively, with the corresponding conductors A and B of the line and branch. The hinged connections of the conductor-switches may be had access to through hand or man holes U having removable covers, and similar passage-ways may be made to the lower parts of the rail and slot switches to keep the connections in proper repair, as shown in Fig. 2.

A B and A B represent the line-conductors,'and A B the branch conductor. If desired, these switches may be secured to a standard or support, as shown in Fig. 5, and.

to this the independent movable switch-section-may be supported by a hinged connection.

J J are the two collectors or brushes, Fig. 7, which project through the slot f of the conduit F, and take the current from the bared workingconductors A B. These brushes J project down into the conduit F through the slot f, and make a sliding connection with the conductors A B. The brushes J are carried by a frame J which is to be supported by the car, and are insulated by insulation J.

The conduit F is shown of metal, but may a be made in any suitable manner. It is provided at intervals with doors F opening into the interior upon one or both sides, and also opening into the slot, said doors forming part of the slot. Through these doors the collectorbrushes may be inserted or withdrawn or examined for repairs. The conductors A B may be examined and connections made for testing purposes, and also for removing dirt and rubbish which may have been collected below them or in the drainage wells F arranged below them and opening from the bottom of the conduit. These drainage -wells may have perforated bottoms to allow the water to drain off, if desired. The doors F are also useful when repairing the conductors A B or inserting new conductors, and likewise for inserting and removing the supporting tools and carriages used in making such repairs to the conductors. The doors F are shown as hinged; but I do not limit myself to any particular connection of said doors or covers with the conduit.

While I prefer the construction set out, I do not limit myself to the details thereof, as they may be modified in various ways without de parting from the spirit of my invention. V

Any matters setout in this application but not claimed therein are not dedicated to the public, but form subject-matter of my applications hereinbefore' referred to and my ap plication No. 302,945 of 1889.

slot as a guide to insure the proper travel of l Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an electric railway, the slotted main and branch conduits each provided with working-conductors,a pivoted switch or end section for said conductors at the branching point, and a closed passageway from the surface of the roadway to the hinged part of said switch.

2. In an electric railway, a branching conductor arranged along and parallel to a branching railway, in combination with a movable conductor-switch at said branching point to guide the collector of the motor upon either branch track desired, and an electric signal consisting of an electric lamp, a source of electric supply, a circuit including said supply and lamp, and a switch in said circuit adapted to be operated by the conductorswitch, whereby the signal is automatically displayed upon moving the conductor-switch section to indicate to the driver of the approaching car which branch conductor the switch has opened.

In an electric railway, a branching conductor arranged along and parallel to a branching railway, in combination with a movable conductorswitch section at the point of branching to guide the collector of the motor upon eitherbranch track desired, two signals, one for each branch, and connecting devices under the control of the switch-section, whereby a movement of the said switch will display either of said signals, but not both at one time.

4. I11 an electric railway, a branching conductor arranged along and parallel to' a branching railway, in combination with a movable conductorswitch section at the poin t of branching to guide the collector of the mo tor upon either branch track desired, two electric-light signals of different colors, one for each branch track, two electric circuits, one for each of said lamps, and circuit-breakers controlled by the movement of the switchsection.

5. In an electric railway, a branching conductor arranged along and parallel to a branching railway, in combination with a movable conductor-switch section at the point of branching to guide the collector of the motor upon either branch track desired, two electric-light signals of different colors, one for each branch track, two electric circuits derived from the line-conductors, one for each of said lamps, and circuit-breakers controlled by the movement of the switch-section.

6. I11 an electric railway, the combination of branching tracks having rail-switehes at said point of branching with a branching line-conductor arranged parallel to said railway, and an electric signal displayed by the movement of the rail-switch to indicate which branching track is open for the electric motor.

7. In an electric railway, the combination of branching tracks having raibswitches at said point ,of branching with a branching line-conductor arranged parallel to said railway, an electric signal displayed by the movement of the rail-switch to indicate which branching track is open for the electric motor, an electric circuit including said signal and derived from said line-conductor, a circuit-breaker to break said circuit, and a con nection between the circuitbreaker and railswitch.

8. In an electric railway, the combination of branching tracks having rail-switches at said point of branching with a branching line-conductor arranged parallel to said railway, a movable conductor-switch, a connection between the rail and conductor-switches, whereby both shall move simultaneously, an electric signal displayed by the movement of the rail-switch to indicate which branching track is open for the electric motor, an electric circuit including said signal and derived from said line-conductor, a circuit-breaker to break said circuit, and a connection between the circuit-breaker and raiLswitch.

9. In an electric railway, a branching slot ted conduit, a slot-switch at the point of branching, a branching conductor placed within and insulated from said conduit, and a signal operated by the movement of the slot-switch to indicate to the driver of an approaching motor which branch is open.

10. In an electric railway, the combination of a branching slotted conduit, a slot-switch at the point of branching, a branching conductor placed within and insulated from said conduit, an electric signal, a circuit derived from the lineconductor to actuate said sig nal, a circuit-breaker to break said circuit, and a connection between said circuit-breaker and slot-switch,whereby the movement of the slot-switch indicates to the driver of an approaching motor which branch is open.

11. In an electric railway, the combination of a branching slotted conduit, a slot-switch at the point of branching, a branching c011- ductor placed within and insulated from said conduit, a movable switch-conductor therefor, an electric signal, a circuit derived from the line-conductor to actuate said signal, a circuit-breaker to break said circuit, and a connection between said circuit-breaker and slot-switch, whereby the movement of the slot-switch indicates to the driver of an approaching motor which branch is open.

12. In an electric railway, the combination of a slotted conduit, hinged or removable doors at one or more places on said conduit and forming part of the sides of the slot, and an electric conductor within said conduit and insulated therefrom.

13. In an electric railway, the combination of a slotted conduit, hinged or removable doors at one or more places on said conduit and forming part of the sides of the slot, cleaning-wells under said doors, and workingconductors supported within said conduit and insulated therefrom.

14. In an electric railway, the combination of a slotted conduit, longitudinal workingconduetors supported therein and insulated therefrom, and cleaning-wells arranged at intervals along the conduit and opening from the same and in which the space between the conductors and cleaningwells is unobstructed.

15. In an electric railway, the combination of a slotted conduit, longitudinal workingconductors supported therein and insulated therefrom, and cleaning-wells arranged at intervals along the conduit and opening from the same, and provided at their bottoms with open grates.

16. In an electric railway, the combination of a slotted conduit, longitudinal workingoonductors supported therein, located upon each side of the slot thereof and insulated therefrom, and cleaning-Wells arranged at intervals along the conduit and opening from the same, and in which the space between the conductors is unobstructed from the slot to the cleaning-wells.

17. In an electric railway, the combination of a conduit having a longitudinal slot, and cleaning-wells arranged at intervals apart and opening' from the bottom thereof, and a longitudinal conductor extending along with- R. M. HUNTER.

IVitnesses:

ERNEST HOWARD HUNTER, ELLA M. BRECKINREED. 

